The Top 10 Glam Metal Bands of All Time

Call it what you will -- glam metal, hair metal, cock rock, or plain old '80s metal -- but there's something to be said for a subculture that extended from the late '70s into the early '90s that refuses to wash off its makeup and die.

Glam metal is an acquired taste, but the lasting legacy of certain bands cannot be denied. Music fans today, both young and old, share a longing for a time when spandex, Kabuki-style fashion, Aqua Net, fire, power ballads, glitter, and guitars were mandatory for any rock or metal show. For this list, I tried to go outside of the box with several picks to encompass bands that might not otherwise be considered glam or even hair metal but were, for whatever reason, lumped into the scene. This is not done as a pejorative -- to the contrary, some of these bands transcended the musical boundaries of shock rock, prog rock, power metal and even proto speed metal.

With that said, whether you're old enough to be Dee Snider's wife or young enough to be his daughter, bust out the hairspray, leather vest, and your tight pants and get ready to rock like it was 1985, again. Enjoy the Top Ten Glam Metal Bands of All Time.

10. LA Guns

LA Guns came onto the scene in the mid-'80s, but by the time of the band's second release, 1989's

, it had defined 'cock rock' with its glammed-out biker-style looks, a foundation in classic/hard rock, and a harder edge that many fans adored.

Formed in 1983 by guitarist Tracii Guns, the band had many early lineup changes, most infamously taking part in the merger that became Guns N' Roses. But six years later, the band hit a note with hordes of fans, with their hit "The Ballad of Jayne."

With more than a dozen albums and tours with AC/DC, Def Leppard, and Iron Maiden, the current, active version of LA Guns features no original members.